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McCarthy: I Should Be Waxing Lyrical About the Performance and a Comfortable Win - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy felt the Blues played very well for 65 minutes despite falling to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Belgian second division side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the final friendly of pre-season at Portman Road.

"I should be stood here waxing lyrical about a really good performance and a comfortable win, but then we gave away [two goals],” McCarthy said.

"By the way, [the first was] a good goal by them, they’ve broken on us, but it’s a dereliction of duty on the edge of the box and gross stupidity from our point that we’ve conceded.”

He added: "We played very well, I think it was a good performance. I don’t think they really troubled us in the first half and I’m not sure they troubled us much in the second half until we gave the goal away.

"We all know, putting the goal in the net is the hardest part of the game. Performance-wise for 65 minutes for great and I should be here talking about that rather than the stupidity of giving the first goal away and then conceding the second pretty softly.”

McCarthy, who was by no means as annoyed by the defeat as he was by Cambridge’s late equaliser in last week’s friendly, dismissed suggestions of defensive frailties, despite conceding three poor goals in the last three games.

"I wouldn’t call it a frailty, I don’t like that word, we’re not frail,” he insisted. "It was a mistake, and in fairness rather than frailty it was probably Jonas Knudsen wanting to go and compete for a ball he shouldn’t have.

"I love his attitude when he’s going to compete for it but he should have just let Dozzer do it and we would never have had that happen.

"But, the fact that it’s been highlighted by conceding goals, I’ve been able to speak to them about it and I hope it doesn’t happen to them in league games.”

Regarding trialist Roland Lamah, he says he’s not yet ready to sign him up, as requested by sections of the support during the game.

"He’s one of a few players we’re considering for that position,” he said. "But I thought he did really well, he contributed.”

The Town boss says the Blues are still working on making additions to the squad: "We’re still doing that, but I’m hopeful we’ll have somebody in before Saturday.”

Regarding injuries, he says Christophe Berra’s half-time withdrawal was planned rather than due to a knock: "He was always going off, him and Tommy were always having 45 minutes.”

McCarthy says he expects Brett Pitman (toe) and Luke Hyam (knee) should be fit for next week’s opening Championship game against Barnsley, while keeper Dean Gerken is set to return to training after his hamstring injury.

"I think so, they’re both improving, they should both be available. Let’s hope we don’t get any more injuries, but they should be available for the squad,” he added.

"Gerks injured his hamstring. I spoke to him before the game and he’s training on Monday.”

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